e-Focus Newsletter

Town of Weaverville

Monthly News & Updates

Weaverville's MLK Day Observance

The Town's MLK Day observance will resume on January 16th 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Weaverville Community Center at Dottie Sherrill Knoll. Our speaker will be Dr. Dwight Mullen.

Dr. Dwight Mullen has spent decades in academia dedicating his work and providing leadership in the political science field. Dr. Mullen began teaching immediately upon receiving his Ph.D. from Atlanta University – first in Nigeria and then at UNC Asheville. Now a Professor Emeritus, designated by UNC Asheville, Dr. Mullen continues his work through State of Black Asheville, an ongoing research project that provides accessible information on racial disparities to the WNC community.

Dwight Mullen and his wife, Associate Professor Emeritus Dr. Dolly Jenkins-Mullen, have four children and five beautiful grandchildren.

To learn more about State of Black Asheville click here.

Town Hall Closed January 2nd

Weaverville Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 2nd for the New Year Holiday.

Trash & Recycling collection will be affected. Click here to view schedule.

Happy New Year from the Town of Weaverville!

Click Here to Buy a Brick!

A Message from Weaverville's Police Department:

Puffing.....no need to get the slang dictionary out for this one! Puffing in relation to the current cold climate means to warm up your unlocked and unattended vehicle. While this does not sound like the safest way to ensure a warm commute to work, it is very common and one of the leading causes of motor vehicle thefts in the United States, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. According to NICB data, vehicle thefts where keys or fobs are left in the vehicle are a growing problem, increasing over the last two years. Of the 794,019 auto thefts in 2019, 84,131 of these had their keys left inside, or roughly 11% of total thefts nationwide. Auto thefts in 2020 showed an increase of 9.2% from 2019’s overall tally, accounting for the most thefts in the past decade.

While it still may be tempting to “puff” your car prior to your commute, here’s some tips from the experts to ensure the security of your vehicle, not just in colder weather, but throughout the year:

Never leave a car unlocked and running to warm it up or while stopping for a quick cup of coffee. It only takes a moment for the opportunistic thief to jump inside and drive off.
Lock the vehicle, set the alarm, and take all keys or fobs.
Do not leave the garage door-opener in the vehicle.
Consider installing a remote starter in your vehicle.
Start your vehicle and allow it to warm up while you scrape the windows, ensuring your vehicle is not left unattended.
Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially in view!

Water Conservation Tips for Residents:

Water Conservation in the Bathroom:

Take short showers instead of baths.
Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
Repair leaky toilets. Add 12 drops of food coloring into the tank, and if color appears in the bowl one hour later, your toilet is leaking.
Install a toilet dam, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads

“Water Conservation Tips for Residents.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_residents.html.

Town Accepting Applications for the 2023 Citizens Academy

The Town of Weaverville hosts an annual Citizens’ Academy to promote open dialogue and provide the community with education about the workings of town government. Any resident is welcome to participate. The curriculum covers current town programs, services, policies, procedures, plus a “behind the scenes” look at how Weaverville’s government operates.

To learn more about Citizens' Academy click here.

To fill out an application please click here.

Mark Your Calendar

January Meetings:

January 3rd: Planning Board Meeting

January 9th: Board of Adjustment Meeting

December 17th: Town Council Workshop

December 23rd: Town Council Meeting

For more information on these meetings click here.

Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living News

Dear Friends of WCCHL,

Happy New Year. We have a great lineup of activities and special events coming your way during the 1st Quarter of 2023. Take a look below for some highlights and modifications to our schedule. Please remember that all activities and special events (unless otherwise specified) take place at the Community Center located above Lake Louise. As we do with the start of each new year, our fully volunteer Board of Directors feels the need to restate for our readers our organization’s mission and some basic ground rules that are articulated within our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Town leadership.

The Mission of the WCCHL Board of Directors is to facilitate activities and special events that uplift body, mind, and spirit for our local townsfolk, free of charge. Through your input, comments, and suggestions, our Board sponsors activities and special events to meet your expressed needs. Each WCCHL sponsored activity and special event is allowed to use the Community Center without charge.

Every activity or special event is headed up by Instructors or Group Champion volunteers who receive no remuneration for their time and expertise. Instructors and Group Champion volunteers are not allowed to solicit donations or gratuities. Classes that require materials such as arts and crafts, Instructors are allowed to ask for a nominal charge to cover the cost of supplies that they provide. Per our MOU, the Town allows WCCHL to put out an “Appreciation Basket” when we produce special events that feature musicians, actors, or storytellers. All funds collected are offered to the performers at the end of the performance.

Upcoming FREE Special Events coming to the Community Center:

Friday, Jan 6: The Life and Times of Earl Scruggs: A musical concert from 7:00-8:30 PM. There will be songs, stories, and home movies of this storied Bluegrass Legend, to celebrate the music of WNC & the 5-string banjo. Featured Musical Guests: Dr. Mark Morris, Dylan Morris & George Buckner.
Tuesday, Jan 17: Storytellers Concert 7:00-8:30 PM. Featuring Chuck Fink and his newest troupe of homegrown Weaverville Storytellers. Stories will be based upon the individual creative works of our newest storytellers as mentored by Chuck Fink during his classes that took place during the 4th Quarter of 2022. (Yes, Chuck will teach this popular class again during the 2nd Quarter of 2023. Look for details in future Blogs.)

New Programs Coming in January 2023

Living with Arthritis: Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 / 10:00-11:00 AM / Register directly with Angel Trail, PT, at angel@bigivypt.com. This workshop is for people with arthritis and persistent joint pain and will be taught by local physical therapist and clinic owner, Angel Trail, PT, OCS. This 3-class series will be part informational and part active participation as you will learn exercises to help decrease pain and increase motion for address your aches and pains. Class is open to any person with aches, pains, and stiffness regardless of whether you have been diagnosed with arthritis. This is a beginner level class that is appropriate for people who are new to exercising or may not have exercised for some time. No equipment is required. We will be using chairs and resistance bands which will be provided. Multipurpose Room.
New Evening Intermediate Line Dance: 8 Week Course. In the Albert Weaver Room, Mondays, 7:00-9:00 PM. Register directly with Bonnie Russolillo at bonnieruss1@icloud.com. Please note that Kae Mance is stepping to the side as Bonnie Russolillio and Nina Denninger will take over as the lead Line Dance instructors.
Ballroom Dancing: In the Albert Weaver Room. Begins Jan 15. Will continue to meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 6:00-8:00 PM. Register directly with Renee Twilley at reneetwilley@gmail.com. Renee would like to remind us that dancing is one of the most physically and socially rewarding activities you can bring to your life. “It’s great for cardiovascular conditioning, muscular flexibility, and improving your memory skills. With only a few basic steps you’ll have the tools and the confidence to have fun on the dance floor with social ease.” This event will be hosted by Reneé Twilley, and features a 30 minute introductory dance lesson (5:30-6:00 PM), followed by a 2 hour dance party. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced dancer, this event is a wonderful way to break away from the stresses of life while creating fun memories as you socialize with new friends on the dance floor.

Minor Schedule Modifications in January 2023

Ecstatic Dance: Begins Feb 2023. In the Albert Weaver Room. This will be a once a month activity taking place on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30-9:30 PM. For more information, please contact Audree Halasz at shespinsfire@gmail.com.
Yoga (One Hour Session): These ongoing sessions presented by Wendy Lantis will only meet on Wednesdays beginning in January 2023, from 10:00-11:00AM. For more information, contact Wendy at bloomingself@gmail.com.
Tai Chi is now Intermediate Tai Chi: Still meets on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 AM. For more information about these ongoing sessions please contact Barbara Ramsey at bgramsey13@aol.com.
Mountain Music Jam: We will be taking a break in the month of January but will be back in February to resume this popular event. We will post new details in our mid-January Blog.

Testing the Waters for Possible New Programs in 2023

Hypnotherapy: This 2½-3 hour program would explore and experience Hypnotherapy in a small group setting. The workshop is designed to teach about the Triune mind: the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious minds that drive all human thought, belief, and behavior. The aim is to uncover why subconscious memories and thoughts can limit our outcomes and how to overcome them by re-education through hypnotherapy. Following a lecture, the group will be led into hypnosis by licensed/board certified clinical and medical support hypnotherapist, Maureen Drummond. Participants will be taught self-hypnosis as a tool for reversing negative thought patterns and behaviors. There will be a follow up Q & A and an opportunity to share the experience before the class concludes. If you are interested, please let us know by contacting us at: wcchl@weavervillenc.org.
Lampshades: During this unique workshop the Lampshade is the canvas. By adding fun costume jewelry, vintage fabric/lace, colorful ribbons etc., the lampshade artist will experience joy and excitement. Design it in memory of a loved one, to honor a special event, or just make it up as you go along. During any season, your one of a kind lampshade is guaranteed to add warmth, conversation, and a special glow to any room. Participants will bring their own lamp with shade, glue gun, and any items you would like to add. Appropriate for kids and adults who can safely work with a glue gun. If you are interested, please let us know by contacting us at: wcchl@weavervillenc.org.
Poets Gathering: Finally, we have had several inquiries to start up a gathering of local poets where they might share their craft with fellow poetry enthusiasts whether published pros or mere novices to the creative process. The mission of this activity would be to advance the act of writing poetry by sharing techniques, inspirations, personal journeys, and offering mutual support. Please let us know if this is something that you (and your fellow poet friends) would like us to set up as a monthly/weekly event by emailing us at wcchl@weavervillenc.com.

In closing, on behalf of the entire WCCHL Board of Directors, we hope your new year is filled with health and happiness. If you have any questions or would like to communicate with us about future programming, please do not hesitate to contact us at wcchl@weavervillenc.org.

Respectfully yours,

Tom

Thomas M. Balestrieri

Board Chairperson

Weaverville Center for Creative & Healthy Living

26 Whitetail Drive

Weaverville, NC 28787

wcchl@weavervillenc.org

904.347.3312

www.facebook.com/WCCHL